Milky Way

by Mamta Nainy

Illustrated by Siddhartha Tripathi

Age Range: 4-6 years
Type: Hardcover and Paperback, 44 pages
Imprint: Yali Books
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0989061568 (Hardcover), 978-0989061582 (Paperback)

Download an Activity Guide for Educators

Tashi is worried about his friend, the Moon. He seems thinner than usual. Maybe the Moon’s Amma-ley isn’t giving him enough to eat? Tashi decides to help his friend. And what does the Moon have to say? Well, he just smiles his special smile–eyes closed and no teeth showing.

Set in the remote mountains of Ladakh in India, Milky Way is a sweet tale of friendship between a boy and the moon. The story highlights the importance of the moon in Tibetan Buddhism and showcases elements of Himalayan cultures, including their delectable cuisine.

"Tashi and his friendship with the moon could be a story about any boy in any part of the world, but is made so much richer because the story is set in such a unique location and share so many pieces of Himalayan and Tibetan Buddhism culture. The illustrations are bold and playful, and the text is perfect for read-alouds. As a school librarian, I am always looking to diversify my collection to include representation of global cultures and religions, and this title will make a perfect addition. I will be purchasing this for my library."

"Milky Way is a great addition to your home and classroom libraries. Nainy and Tripathi craft a story that celebrates Himalayan culture, family and friendship. This book would work well in multicultural units in the classroom, of course, but it’s also simply a great read aloud about friendship and caring. Milky Way would also work well in a classroom science unit as an example of bridging science and culture."

"Milky Way speaks to the universal curiosity and wonder shared by all children about the world around them."

"Milky Way is a great way to build diversity in your library while touching on science content. Quite an unusual combination."

Also available at: Bookshop / Indie Bound / Barnes & Noble / Amazon.com / Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.ca and other retailers worldwide